“Even though the world was – and is – in a dark place, I wanted to focus on an uplifting melody and spread happiness through music. It was great to know that even though we are self-isolating, we are connecting with music. I just wanted them to know we were thinking of them.” Isabella He, founder of Teens for Veterans, attached to Pittsford, N.Y., American Legion Post 899
Scholarships. The pandemic did not cancel the mission the American Legion Riders had fulfilled since 2006; it simply changed the way it would roll. “We can’t say, ‘Well, this year we can’t help you out because of COVID,’” South Carolina Past American Legion Riders Director L.Z. Harrison explained. “We have to continue pushing forward and doing the best we can ... It’s important to us to ensure that we donate money so these children will have a chance at a higher education. These families have paid a sacrifice, whether it’s the ultimate sacrifice or whether a parent is
disabled from their military service. They paid a sacrifice to their nation, so we can’t forget their children.” The Legacy Run donation window, which normally closes when funds are delivered onstage at the national convention, was extended to the end of 2020 so chapters across the country could conduct in-state rides that were scuttled in the spring due to the pandemic. “To see our Riders committed to raising funds for the kids, even through the many hurdles they have to face due to COVID-19, is inspiring,” national American Legion Riders Advisory Committee Chairman Mark Clark said. “What
impressed me the most is the level of coordination and organization that went into each ride, making sure that proper safety protocols were followed to keep the participants safe. One of the things I have always admired about ALR members is that no matter the challenge, they find a way to overcome it and always do so safely and professionally.” Missouri, Oklahoma and Virginia had in-state Legacy Runs in July. Other departments, districts and chapters scheduled theirs for the months ahead while Legion Riders raised funds from local sources that had supported the scholarship in
COVID OPERATIONS: THE AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY’S RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC
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